ACI STRUCTURAL JOURNAL

TECHNICAL PAPER

Title no. 102-S91

Recommended Provisions and Commentary on

Development and Lap Splice Lengths for Deformed
Reinforcing Bars in Tension
by David Darwin, LeRoy A. Lutz, and Jun Zuo
Criteria recommended by ACI Committee 408 on development and
lap splice length design for straight reinforcing bars in tension are
presented in code format and compared with those in ACI 318-05,
Building Code Recommendations for Structural Concrete. The
recommended criteria produce designs with improved reliability
compared to those in ACI 318. Development lengths are longer
than those in ACI 318 for conditions of low cover or confinement,
but shorter for bars with higher degrees of confinement, provided
by added cover and transverse reinforcement and wider spacing
between bars, and for normalweight concretes with strengths
between 10,000 and 16,000 psi (70 and 110 MPa).

This paper is sponsored by ACI Committee 408, Bond and

Development of Reinforcement.
Keywords: bar ribs; bond; development length; high relative rib area;
reinforcing bars; splice length.

PREFACE
These recommended provisions and commentary are part
of the work of ACI Committee 408, Bond and Development
of Reinforcement, and represent proposed changes to Chapter 12
of ACI 318-05, Building Code Requirements for Structural
Concrete.1 The provisions are based on the recommendations
presented in ACI 408R-032 and are written to serve as a template
for changes in Sections 12.2, 12.3, 12.15.1, and 12.15.2 of
ACI 318, which cover development and lap splice design of
straight bars in tension. In addition to provisions for
conventional reinforcement, the proposed changes also include
provisions for high relative rib area reinforcement.
The commentary is more extensive than is typical because
of a desire to clarify the proposed provisions and provide
appropriate comparisons with the provisions in ACI 318.
Additional discussion is also presented following the
Commentary for Sections 2.0 and 3.0 on development length
and lap splices, respectively.
If adopted, the proposed provisions will provide designers
with expressions that have improved levels of reliability and
economy in comparison to the requirements in ACI 318-05.
The improved reliability is based on better correlation
between the design criteria in these provisions and bond test
data compared to that obtained with the criteria in ACI 318.
The proposed provisions also provide improved economy
based on: (1) reductions in the number of situations in which
Class B splices must be used; and (2) reduced development
and lap splice lengths for bars with higher degrees of
confinement, provided by transverse reinforcement,
increased cover, and wider spacing between bars, and for
normalweight concretes with strengths between 10,000 and
16,000 psi (70 and 110 MPa).
892

CONTENTS
1.0Notation
2.0Development of deformed reinforcing bars in
tension
3.0Lap splices of deformed reinforcing bars in
tension
4.0Development and splicing of high relative rib
area deformed reinforcing bars in tension
Appendix ARecommended Supplement to
ASTM A 615/A 615M for high relative rib area bars
RECOMMENDED PROVISIONS and COMMENTARY
1.0Notation
Atr
=
total cross-sectional area of all transverse
reinforcement that is within the spacing s
and crosses the potential plane of splitting
through the reinforcement being developed
or lap spliced, in.2 (mm2)
=
cmin + 0.5db, in. (mm)
cb
clear cover of reinforcement being developed
cbb =
or lap spliced, measured to tension face of
member, in. (mm)
cmax =
maximum value of cs or cbb, in. (mm)
minimum value of cs or cbb, in. (mm)
cmin =
=
minimum value of csi + 0.25 in. (csi + 6 mm)
cs
or cso, in. (mm). csi may be used in lieu of
csi + 0.25 in. (csi + 6 mm)
=
one-half of average clear spacing between
csi
bars or lap splices in a single layer, in. (mm)
cso =
clear cover of reinforcement being developed
or lap spliced, measured to side face of
member, in. (mm)
db
=
nominal bar diameter of developed or lap
spliced bar, in. (mm)
fc
=
specified
compressive
strength
of
concrete, psi (MPa)
fc1/4 =
fourth root of fc , expressed in psi (MPa)
units
square root of fc , expressed in psi (MPa)
f c =
units
ACI Structural Journal, V. 102, No. 6, November-December 2005.
MS No. 05-107 received May 9, 2005, reviewed by TAC, and published as a committeesponsored paper. Copyright 2005, American Concrete Institute. All rights reserved,
including the making of copies unless permission is obtained from the copyright proprietors.
Pertinent discussion including authors closure, if any, will be published in the SeptemberOctober 2006 ACI Structural Journal if the discussion is received by May 1, 2006.

ACI Structural Journal/November-December 2005

David Darwin, FACI, is the Deane E. Ackers Distinguished Professor of Civil,

Environmental, and Architectural Engineering and Director of the Structural
Engineering and Materials Laboratory at the University of Kansas, Lawrence,
Kans. He is a Vice President of ACI and Chair of ACI Committee 408, Bond and
Development of Reinforcement.
LeRoy A. Lutz, FACI, is Vice President and Principal of Computerized Structural
Design, S.C., Milwaukee, Wis. He is a member and Past Chair of ACI Committee 408,
Bond and Development of Reinforcement, and a member of ACI Subcommittee 318-B,
Reinforcement and Development.
ACI member Jun Zuo is a senior structural engineer with Constructive Engineering
Design, Inc., Kansas City, Mo. He is a member of ACI Committee 408, Bond and
Development of Reinforcement.

fct

fy

Ktr

Ktr

ld
n

=
=

Rr

td

t
e

=
=
=

average splitting tensile strength of lightweight aggregate concrete, psi (MPa)

yield strength of reinforcement being
developed or lap spliced, psi (MPa)
transverse reinforcement index as defined
in ACI 318-05, in. (mm)
transverse reinforcement index as defined
by Eq. (2-3), in. (mm)
development length, in. (mm)
number of bars being developed or lap
spliced along plane of splitting
relative rib area, ratio of projected rib area
normal to bar axis to product of nominal bar
perimeter and average center-to-center rib
spacing
maximum center-to-center spacing of
transverse reinforcement within ld, in. (mm)
bar diameter factor for use in calculating
Ktr . Refer to 2.3
reinforcement location factor. Refer to 2.4
coating factor. Refer to 2.4
lightweight aggregate concrete factor. Refer
to 2.4
factor reflecting benefit of large cover/
spacing perpendicular to controlling cover/
spacing as defined by Eq. (2-2)

R1.0Notation
Ar
=
projected rib area normal to reinforcing bar
axis, in.2 (mm2)
hr
=
average height of deformations (measured
according to S.2.3 of Appendix A), in. (mm)
sr
=
average center-to-center rib spacing, in. (mm)
2.0Development of deformed reinforcing bars
in tension
2.1Development length ld for bars in tension shall
be determined from either 2.2 or 2.3.
2.1.1 When the load factors and strength reduction
factors in Appendix C of ACI 318-05 are used, the
development length ld shall be reduced by multiplying
by 0.85.
2.1.2 In all cases, ld shall not be less than the larger
of 16db or 12 in. (300 mm).
2.1.3 The values of fc1/4 used in these provisions
shall not exceed 11.25 psi (3.25 MPa) for normalweight
concrete or 10 psi (2.9 MPa) for lightweight concrete.
2.1.4 The values of f c used in these provisions
shall not exceed 126 psi (10.5 MPa) for normalweight
concrete or 100 psi (8.3 MPa) for lightweight concrete.
ACI Structural Journal/November-December 2005

Fig. R1.1Definition of cbb , csi , and cso.

2.2Unless determined based on 2.3, the development length in tension ld shall be as follows:
Clear spacing of the bars being
developed or spliced is not less than
db, and stirrups or ties throughout ld
fy
------------------ 21 t e d b (in.-lb)
provide a value Ktr /db 0.5
93f 1 4

c
or
fy
-------------------- 21 t e d b (SI)
Clear spacing of the bars being
2.2f 1 4

c
developed or spliced is not less than
2db and clear cover is not less than
db
Other cases

fy
------------------ 31 t e d b (in.-lb)
62f 1 4

fy
-------------------- 31 t e d b (SI)
1.5f 1 4

2.3The development length in tension ld shall be

fy

- 2000 t e
----------- f c 1 4

l d = -----------------------------------------------------------d b (in.-lb)
c b + K tr
62 -----------------------

db

(2-1)

fy

- 48 t e
----------- f c 1 4

l d = ----------------------------------------------------d b (SI)
c b + K tr
1.5 -----------------------

db
c b + K tr
- shall not exceed 4.
in which -----------------------

db
The factor shall be taken as 1.0 or calculated as
c max
= 0.1 ----------+ 0.9 1.25
c min

(2-2)

The transverse reinforcement index Ktr shall be

calculated as
t d A tr f c
K tr = --------------------- (in.-lb)
2sn

(2-3)

893

6t d A tr f c
K tr = ------------------------(SI)
sn
The bar diameter factor td shall be calculated as
td = 0.78db + 0.22 (in.-lb)

(2-4)

td = 0.03db + 0.22 (SI)

Alternatively, it shall be permitted to take Ktr = 0 as a
design simplification, even if transverse reinforcement
is present.
Using a value of cmin that is less than the actual value
shall be permitted when calculating ld. The same value
of cmin shall be used when calculating and cb.
R2.0Development of deformed reinforcing bars
in tension
The general development length equation (Eq. (2-1)) is based
on work reported by ACI Committee 408.2 Equation (2-1) is a
reliability-based expression that produces a probability of
failure in bond equal to approximately 1/5 of the probability
of failure of a reinforced concrete beam in flexure. This is in
contrast to the general development length equation in
ACI 318-05 that produces a probability of failure in bond
that is approximately equal to that of a flexural failure.2,3
The higher proposed level of reliability is based on the brittle
nature of a bond failure.
These provisions do not include the reinforcement size
factor that is used in ACI 318-05 to reduce development and
splice lengths of No. 6 (No. 19) and smaller bars because, as
demonstrated in References 2 and 3, the application of such
a factor provides very poor reliability.
Analysis of a database of development and splice
specimens2,3 supports the use of fc 1/4 to accurately represent
the contribution of concrete strength to bond strength for
bars not confined by transverse reinforcement and the use of
fc 3/4 (shown as the product fc 1/4 f c ) to represent the
contribution of concrete strength to the additional bond
strength provided by transverse reinforcement. Further
details are presented in Reference 2.
The limitations on the values for fc 1/4 and f c are applicable
for compressive strengths exceeding 16,000 psi (110 MPa)
for normalweight concrete and 10,000 psi (69 MPa) for lightweight concrete. These limits reflect the upper range of test
data available for epoxy-coated3,4 as well as uncoated
reinforcing bars at the time that these recommendations
were developed.
The upper limit of 4 for the term (cb + Ktr )/db is based
on the upper limit of confinement for which a splitting
failure will occur. Higher values of confinement will not
provide a commensurate increase in bond strength. This
limit is higher than the upper limit of 2.5 that is applied to the
term (cb + Ktr)/db in ACI 318-05.
The 0.85 factor in Section 2.1.1 is introduced when the
load factors and strength reduction factors in Appendix C of
ACI 318-05 are used. This is done to maintain a level of
reliability for bond that is consistent with the more conservative
combination of load factors and tension strength reduction
factor employed in the Appendix. In other words, to maintain
the same reliability, using the load factors in Chapter 9 of
ACI 318-05, in conjunction with the continued use of = 0.9
for flexure and tension, requires the use of lap splice and
894

development lengths that are 18% longer than are required

when using the higher load factors in Appendix C of ACI
318-05 with the same value of .
The equations in Section 2.2 result from setting the parameter
= 1.0 and setting (cb + Ktr )/db in Eq. (2-1) to 1.5 for the
first equation and 1.0 for the second equation. Section 2.2
recognizes that many practical construction cases have
spacing and cover values and confining reinforcement, such
as stirrups or ties, that result in a value of (cb + Ktr )/db
equal at least 1.5. Examples include a minimum clear cover
db along with either a minimum clear spacing of 2db or a
combination of minimum clear spacing db with ties or
stirrups providing Ktr /db 0.5.
As in ACI 318R-05, the user may easily construct simplified,
useful expressions. For example, in all structures with
normalweight concrete ( = 1.0), uncoated reinforcement
(e = 1.0), and bottom bars (t = 1.0) with fc = 4000 psi
(28 MPa) and Grade 60 (Grade 420) reinforcement, the
equations in Section 2.2 reduce to
60,000
l d = ------------------------------ 21 ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 )d b = 60d b (in.-lb)
14

93 ( 4000 )
60,000
l d = ------------------------------ 31 ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 )d b = 91d b (in.-lb)
14

62 ( 4000 )
420
21 ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 )d b = 62d b (SI)
l d = ------------------------14

2.2 ( 28 )
420
31 ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 )d b = 91d b (SI)
l d = ------------------------14

1.5 ( 28 )
For the load and strength reduction factors in Appendix C
of ACI 318-05, these values are 51db and 77db (53db and
77db), respectively.
Many practical combinations of bar spacing, clear cover,
and confining reinforcement can be used with Section 2.3
to produce significantly shorter development lengths than
allowed by Section 2.2. The maximum amount of confinement
allowed in Eq. (2-1), as represented by the term (cb +
Ktr )/db, is equal to 4.0, compared with 2.5 for (c + Ktr)/db in
ACI 318-05; this allows a further reduction in development
length. For the concrete and reinforcement strengths used
above, = 1, and under conditions of high confinement with
(cb + Ktr )/db = 4, Eq. (2-1) produces
60,000
----------------------- 2000 1 ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 )
14

( 4000 )
l d = ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- d b = 22d b
62 ( 4 )
(in.-lb)
420
----------------- 48 1 ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 ) ( 1.0 )
14

( 28 )
l d = ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- d b = 22d b (SI)
1.5 ( 4 )
A value of cmin that is less than the actual value would be
used to calculate ld in cases where (cb + Ktr )/db is set to its
maximum of 4. In these cases, increasing cover cbb can result
ACI Structural Journal/November-December 2005

Fig. R2.1(a)Test/calculated ratios for ACI 318-05 and

proposed provisions for bars not confined by transverse
reinforcement.

Fig. R2.1(b)Test/calculated ratios versus compressive

strength for bars not confined by transverse reinforcement
(1 psi = 6.895 kPa).
in a requirement to increase, rather than decrease, ld; this
occurs because the denominator in Eq. (2-1) is constant,
while the numerator increases as decreases because cmax
(the spacing between bars) is constant and cmin = cbb is
increasing. If a lower than actual value of cmin is used, it must
be used to calculate cb as well as .
2.4The factors used in the expressions for development of bars in tension are as follows:
t = reinforcement location factor
Horizontal reinforcement so placed that more than 12 in.
(300 mm) of fresh concrete is cast in the member below
the development length or splice............................. 1.3
Other reinforcement ................................................ 1.0
e = coating factor
Epoxy-coated bars .................................................. 1.5
Uncoated reinforcement .......................................... 1.0
However, the product t e need not be taken
greater than 1.7.
= lightweight aggregate concrete factor
When lightweight aggregate concrete is used......... 1.3
However, when fct is specified, shall be permitted
to be taken as 6.7 f c /fct ( f c /1.8fct) but not less
than ......................................................................... 1.0
When normalweight concrete is used ..................... 1.0
R2.4The factors in 2.4 are unchanged from those in
ACI 318, with the exception that only a single value of e is
ACI Structural Journal/November-December 2005

Fig. R2.1(c)Test/calculated ratios for ACI 318-05 and

proposed provisions for bars confined by transverse
reinforcement.

Fig. R2.1(d)Test/calculated ratios versus compressive

strength for bars confined by transverse reinforcement
(1 psi = 6.895 kPa).
used for epoxy-coated reinforcement. The justification for
the single value is presented in References 2 and 3.
2.5 Excess reinforcementReduction in development
length shall be permitted where reinforcement in a flexural
member is in excess of that required by analysis, except
where anchorage or development for fy is specifically
required or the reinforcement is designed under provisions
of 21.2.1.4 of ACI 318-05......(As required)/(As provided)
R2.5 Excess reinforcementThe tests used to develop
Eq. (2-1) demonstrate that a reduction in development
length based on the ratio of As required to As provided is
conservative when applied to the expressions for ld in
Sections 2.2 and 2.3. In such cases, application of the factor
(As required)/(As provided) results in a bond force that still
exceeds the bar force corresponding to As required. This
factor is not applied in cases where the full yield strength fy
is required or where the structure will be subjected to severe
seismic loading.
Additional discussion of Section 2.0:
The improved accuracy provided by Eq. (2-1) compared with
that provided by Eq. (12-1) in ACI 318-05 and the appropriateness of fc 1/4 to represent the contribution of concrete strength to
bond strength are demonstrated in Fig. R2.1(a) through (d). In
the figures, data from ACI Committee 408 Database 2001-102
are used for comparison. Figure R2.1(a) compares the distribution of test-to-calculated ratios for bond forces based on
ACI 318-05 with those for these provisions for bars not
confined by transverse reinforcement. The figure demonstrates
895

Table R2.1Comparison of development lengths, expressed as ld /db, for ACI 318-05 and proposed provisions for:
(a) Grade 60 (414 MPa*); and (b) Grade 75 (517 MPa) bars
(a) Grade 60 (414 MPa*) reinforcement
(cb + Ktr)/db = 1.0 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 1.0 for proposed
Proposed
ACI
Section

fc, psi 318-05

2.2

Proposed
Section 2.3
=1

Proposed
Section 2.3
= 1.25

(b) Grade 75 (517 MPa) reinforcement

(cb + Ktr)/db = 1.0 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 1.0 for proposed

Proposed
Section 2.2 and
Proposed
ACI 318-05
Section

Appendix C fc, psi ACI 318-05

2.2

Proposed
Section 2.3
=1

Proposed
Section 2.3
= 1.25

Proposed
Section 2.2 and
ACI 318-05
Appendix C

3000
4000

82.2
71.2

99.8
90.7

98.5
89.4

72.4
65.1

84.8
77.1

3000
4000

102.7
88.9

132.5
121.1

131.2
119.9

98.5
89.4

112.6
102.9

5000
6000

63.6
58.1

84.1
79.0

82.8
77.7

59.8
55.7

71.5
67.1

5000
6000

79.5
72.6

112.9
106.4

111.6
105.2

82.8
77.7

96.0
90.4

7000
8000

53.8
50.3

74.8
71.3

73.5
70.1

52.4
49.6

63.6
60.6

7000
8000

67.2
62.9

101.2
96.9

100.0
95.6

73.5
70.1

86.0
82.4

10,000
12,000

45.0
45.0

65.8
61.5

64.5
60.2

45.2
41.7

55.9
52.2

10,000
12,000

56.3
56.3

90.0
84.6

88.7
83.3

64.5
60.2

76.5
71.9

15,000 45.0
56.4
55.2
37.7
48.0
(cb + Ktr)/db = 1.5 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 1.5 for proposed
ACI
fc, psi 318-05

Proposed
Section
2.2

Proposed
Section 2.3
=1

Proposed
Section 2.3
= 1.25
cb/db = 1.0

15,000
56.3
78.3
77.0
55.2
66.6
(cb + Ktr)/db = 1.5 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 1.5 for proposed

Proposed
Section 2.2 and
Proposed
ACI 318-05
Section

f
,
psi
Appendix C
2.2
ACI 318-05
c

Proposed
Section 2.3
=1

Proposed
Section 2.3
= 1.25
cb/db = 1.0

Proposed
Section 2.2 and
ACI 318-05
Appendix C

3000
4000

54.8
47.4

66.2
60.1

65.7
59.6

51.7
46.5

56.3
51.1

3000
4000

68.5
59.3

88.0
80.4

87.5
79.9

70.4
63.9

74.8
68.3

5000
6000

42.4
38.7

55.7
52.3

55.2
51.8

42.7
39.8

47.3
44.5

5000
6000

53.0
48.4

74.9
70.6

74.4
70.1

59.2
55.5

63.7
60.0

7000

35.9

49.5

49.0

37.4

42.1

7000

44.8

67.2

66.7

52.5

57.1

8000

33.5

47.2

46.7

35.4

40.1

8000

41.9

64.3

63.8

50.0

54.7

10,000
12,000

30.0
30.0

43.5
40.6

43.0
40.1

32.3
29.8

37.0
34.5

10,000
12,000

37.5
37.5

59.6
56.1

59.1
55.5

46.1
43.0

50.7
47.7

15,000

30.0

37.3

36.8
26.9
31.7
15,000
37.5
51.9
51.4
39.4
44.1
Maximum confinement:
Maximum confinement:
(cb + Ktr)/db = 2.5 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 2.5 and 4 for proposed (cb + Ktr)/db = 2.5 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 2.5 and 4 for proposed
Proposed
Proposed
Proposed
Section 2.3
Section 2.3
Section 2.3
(cb + Ktr )/db (cb + Ktr )/db (cb + Ktr )/db
= 2.5, = 1
= 4, = 1
= 4, = 1.25 fc, psi
39.4
24.6
22.6
3000

ACI 318-05
(cb + Ktr)/db = 2.5

Proposed
Proposed
Proposed
Section 2.3
Section 2.3
Section 2.3
(cb + Ktr )/db (cb + Ktr )/db (cb + Ktr )/db
= 2.5, = 1
= 4, = 1
= 4, = 1.25
52.5
32.8
30.8

fc, psi

ACI 318-05

3000

32.9

4000

28.5

35.8

22.4

20.3

4000

35.6

47.9

30.0

27.9

5000

25.5

33.1

20.7

18.7

5000

31.8

44.6

27.9

25.9

6000
7000

23.2
21.5

31.1
29.4

19.4
18.4

17.4
16.4

6000
7000

29.0
26.9

42.1
40.0

26.3
25.0

24.3
23.0

8000
10,000

20.1
18.0

28.0
25.8

17.5
16.1

16.0
16.0

8000
10,000

25.2
22.5

38.3
35.5

23.9
22.2

21.9
20.2

12,000

18.0

24.1

16.0

16.0

12,000

22.5

33.3

20.8

18.8

15,000

18.0

22.1

16.0

16.0

15,000

22.5

30.8

19.3

17.2

41.1

A soft conversion is used for this comparison because Grade 420 corresponds to 60,900 psi, requiring slightly longer development lengths than those listed for Grade 60 reinforcement.

A soft conversion is used for this comparison because Grade 520 corresponds to 75,400 psi, requiring slightly longer development lengths than those listed for Grade 75 reinforcement.

Reinforcement size factor = 1.0.

that the proposed provisions produce a better match with the

test results than do the provisions of ACI 318 (that is, more
reliable results with less scatter). For the comparison shown
in Fig. R2.1(a), 17% of the test/calculated ratios for ACI
318-05 fall below 1.0, compared with 7% for the proposed
criteria. Figure R2.1(b) shows the relationship between the
test and calculated values using ACI 318 without the
maximum limit on f c of 100 psi (8.33 MPa) (equivalent to a
maximum usable compressive strength of 10,000 psi [70 MPa]),
ACI 318 with the required maximum cutoff, and these
provisions. The test-calculated ratio is shown to drop with
increasing compressive strength for the basic relationship in
896

ACI 318, but to be essentially independent of compressive

strength for ACI 318 once the maximum value on f c is
applied, thus emphasizing the importance of the upper limit
on f c when applying the provisions in ACI 318-05. The
trend line based on these provisions is even less sensitive to
f c . Figure R2.1(c) and (d) show similar results for bars
that are confined by transverse reinforcement. In Fig. R2.1(c),
23% of the test/calculated ratios for ACI 318-05 fall below
1.0, compared with 6% for the proposed criteria.
Table R2.1 compares development lengths for Grades 60
and 75 (414 and 517 MPa) bars based on ACI 318-05 (with
a reinforcement size factor of 1.0) and these provisions
ACI Structural Journal/November-December 2005

Table R2.2td and td /db as functions of bar size

Bar size

Bar diameter,
in. (mm)

td

td /db, in.1

td /db, mm1

No. 4 (No. 13)

No. 5 (No. 16)

0.500 (12.7)
0.625 (15.9)

0.61
0.71

1.22
1.13

0.048
0.044

No. 6 (No 19)

No. 7 (No. 22)

0.750 (19.1)
0.875 (22.2)

0.81
0.90

1.07
1.03

0.042
0.041

No. 8 (No. 25)

No. 9 (No. 29)

1.000 (25.4)
1.128 (28.7)

1.00
1.10

1.00
0.98

0.039
0.038

No. 10 (No. 32)

No. 11 (No. 36)

1.270 (32.3)
1.410 (35.8)

1.21
1.32

0.95
0.94

0.037
0.037

No. 14 (No. 43)

No. 18 (No. 57)

1.693 (43.0)
2.257 (57.3)

1.54
1.98

0.91
0.88

0.036
0.035

then Atr /sn = 0.20 2/(4 3) = 0.033 in. From Fig. R2.2(a),
Ktr /td = 1.05 in. From Table R2.2, td = 1.10 and td/db =
0.98 in.1. Thus, Ktr = (Ktr /td) td = 1.05 1.10 = 1.16 in.,
and Ktr /db = (Ktr /td) (td/db) = 1.05 0.98 = 1.03. (For
example, for fc = 30 MPa, if three closely spaced No. 29 bars
[n = 3] are confined by No. 13 bar stirrups with two legs
spaced at s = 100 mm, then Atr/sn = 129 2/[100 3] =
0.86 mm. From Fig. R2.2(b), Ktr /td = 28 mm. From
Table R2.2, td = 1.10 and td/db = 0.038 mm1. Thus, Ktr =
[Ktr /td] td = 28 1.10 = 30.8 mm, and Ktr /db = [Ktr /td]
[td/db] = 28 0.038 = 1.06.) With Ktr or Ktr /db calculated, the
development length ld may be determined using the provisions of either Section 2.2 or Section 2.3.

Fig. R2.2Ktr /td as function of Atr /sn and fc : (a) in.-lb; and
(b) SI.
(Sections 2.2 and 2.3) and covers cases ranging from
minimum clear cover and bar spacing to cases with the
maximum confinement that may be used for design in the
respective provisions. As shown in the table, values for ld
given in Section 2.2 are greater than those obtained using
Chapter 12 of ACI 318-05 at corresponding levels of spacing
and confinement. Table R2.1 also demonstrates that development lengths ld calculated using Section 2.3 decrease relative to
those in ACI 318-05 as the degree of confinement and the
concrete compressive strength increase and can be 30% or
more below those required by ACI 318. One other set of
comparisons can be made using Table R2.1comparisons
between the values of ld based on ACI 318 and those based
on Section 2.2 when the load factors of Appendix C of
ACI 318-05 are used for design. In this case, the higher
reliability in bond (as well as in flexure) attainable with the
higher load factors in Appendix C allows ld based on the
proposed provisions to be reduced by 15%. The resulting
values are only fractionally greater than the development
lengths required by ACI 318-05, which were originally used
with the load factors that appear in Appendix C through the
1999 edition of ACI 318.5 A similar 15% decrease is available
under Section 2.3.
Figure R2.2 and Table R2.2 are provided to assist in the
calculation of Ktr in Section 2.2 or Section 2.3. The value
Ktr can be calculated by taking the product of Ktr /td, which
is based on Atr /sn in Fig. R2.2, and the value of td, which is
based on bar size, from Table R.2.2. For example, for fc =
4000 psi, if three closely spaced No. 9 bars (n = 3) are
confined by No. 4 bar stirrups with two legs spaced at s = 4 in.,
ACI Structural Journal/November-December 2005

3.0Lap splices of deformed reinforcing bars in

tension
3.1Minimum length of lap for tension lap splices
shall be as required for Class A, B, or C splices, but not
less than 16db or 12 in. (300 mm), where
Class A splice....................................................... 1.0ld
Class B splice................................... 1.0ld with = 1.0
Class C splice................................. 1.25ld with = 1.0
where ld is the tensile development length for the specified yield strength fy in accordance with 2.2 or 2.3
without the modification factor in 2.5.
R3.1Although tests demonstrate that splice strength
where (As required)/(As provided) < 1 is conservatively
represented by the modification factor in 2.5, this factor is
not used to increase the level of reliability of lap splices.
3.2Lap splices of deformed bars in tension shall be
Class B splices, except that Class A splices shall be
allowed when the criteria of 3.2.1, 3.2.2, or 3.2.3 are
met or when Class C splices are required in accordance with 3.3.
3.2.1When the spliced reinforcement is confined
with transverse reinforcement at two or more locations
with spacing s not greater than 12 in. (300 mm),
providing that Ktr /db is at least 1.0.
3.2.2When no more than one-half of the total
reinforcement is spliced within the required lap length.
3.2.3For horizontal reinforcing bars in walls that
are not being used as in-plane flexural or tensile
members.
R3.2Tests2,3,6,7 demonstrate that strength requirements
are fulfilled by Eq. (2-1) for splices with a factor of 1.0, even
897

Table R3.2Comparison of Class B splice lengths, expressed as ld /db, for ACI 318-05 and proposed provisions for:
(a) Grade 60 (414 MPa*); and (b) Grade 75 (517 MPa) bars
(a) Grade 60 (414 MPa*) reinforcement
(cb + Ktr)/db = 1.0 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 1.0 for proposed
Proposed Section 2.2
1.0ld

(b) Grade 75 (517 MPa) reinforcement

(cb + Ktr)/db = 1.0 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 1.0 for proposed
fc, psi

ACI 318-05
1.3ld

Proposed Section 2.2

1.0ld

Proposed Section 2.3

1.0ld with = 1

98.5

3000

133.5

132.5

131.2

89.4
82.8

4000
5000

115.6
103.4

121.1
112.9

119.9
111.6

77.7
73.5

6000
7000

94.4
87.4

106.4
101.2

105.2
100.0

71.3
65.8

70.1
64.5

8000
10,000

81.8
73.1

96.9
90.0

95.6
88.7

61.5
56.4

60.2
55.2

12,000
15,000

73.1
73.1

84.6
78.3

83.3
77.0

fc, psi

ACI 318-05
1.3ld

3000

106.8

99.8

4000
5000

92.5
82.7

90.7
84.1

6000
7000

75.5
69.9

79.0
74.8

8000
10,000

65.4
58.5

12,000
15,000

58.5
58.5

Proposed Section 2.3

1.0ld with = 1.0

(cb + Ktr)/db = 1.5 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 1.5 for proposed

(cb + Ktr)/db = 1.5 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 1.5 for proposed

fc, psi

ACI 318-05
1.3ld

Proposed Section 2.2

1.0ld

3000
4000

71.2
61.7

66.2
60.1

65.7
59.6

3000
4000

89.0
77.1

88.0
80.4

87.5
79.9

5000
6000

55.2
50.3

55.7
52.3

55.2
51.8

5000
6000

68.9
62.9

74.9
70.6

74.4
70.1

7000
8000

46.6
43.6

49.5
47.2

49.0
46.7

7000
8000

58.3
54.5

67.2
64.3

66.7
63.8

10,000
12,000

39.0
39.0

43.5
40.6

43.0
40.1

10,000
12,000

48.8
48.8

59.6
56.1

59.1
55.5

15,000

39.0

15,000

48.8

51.9

51.4

Proposed Section 2.3

1.0ld with = 1

fc, psi

ACI 318-05
1.3ld

Proposed Section 2.2

1.0ld

Proposed Section 2.3

1.0ld with = 1

37.3
36.8
Maximum confinement:
(cb + Ktr)/db = 2.5 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 2.5 and 4 for proposed
fc, psi

ACI 318-05
1.3ld

Proposed Section 2.3

(cb + Ktr )/db = 2.5,
=1

Proposed Section 2.3

(cb + Ktr )/db = 4,
=1

3000
4000

42.7
37.0

39.4
35.8

24.6
22.4

5000

33.1

33.1

6000

30.2

31.1

7000
8000

28.0
26.2

10,000
12,000
15,000

Maximum confinement:
(cb + Ktr)/db = 2.5 for ACI 318-05, (cb + Ktr )/db = 2.5 and 4 for proposed
fc, psi

ACI 318-05
1.3ld

Proposed Section 2.3

(cb + Ktr )/db = 2.5,
=1

Proposed Section 2.3

(cb + Ktr )/db = 4,
=1

3000
4000

53.4
46.2

52.5
47.9

32.8
30.0

20.7

5000

41.4

44.6

27.9

19.4

6000

37.8

42.1

26.3

29.4
28.0

18.4
17.5

7000
8000

35.0
32.7

40.0
38.3

25.0
23.9

23.4

25.8

16.1

10,000

29.3

35.5

22.2

23.4

24.1

16.0

12,000

29.3

33.3

20.8

23.4

22.1

16.0

15,000

29.3

30.8

19.3

A soft conversion is used for this comparison because Grade 420 corresponds to 60,900 psi, requiring slightly longer development lengths than those listed for Grade 60 reinforcement.

A soft conversion is used for this comparison because Grade 520 corresponds to 75,400 psi, requiring slightly longer development lengths than those listed for Grade 75 reinforcement.
Reinforcement size factor = 1.0.
= 1.0 for l in Section 2.2.
d

when all bars are spliced at the same location. Historically,

however, a factor of 1.3 has been used for Class B splices to
encourage less congested reinforcement details and to
improve reliability.1 A value of = 1.0 is used here for the
same reasons when Ktr /db is less than 1.0 and more than
one-half of the reinforcement is spliced at one location.
The development length ld properly reflects the required
splice length for walls provided that the top bar factor of 1.3
is employed. There is no need to also require a Class B
splice, as has been done in the past for walls where all bars
are spliced at the same location.
3.3Lap splices in tension tie members are
permitted using a Class C splice, provided
898

no more than one-half of the bars are spliced at

any one location,
cmin is at least 1.5db , and
Atr /sn is at least db /20 with a ninety degree or
greater bend in the transverse reinforcement
confining each spliced bar.
R3.3Although splicing of tension tie members with lap
splices has not been permitted since the introduction of
ACI 318-83,8 it is, in fact, done in practice. With proper
confinement of splices in tie members, it has been shown9
that such members can behave very well, even under cyclic
loading conditions.
ACI Structural Journal/November-December 2005

Fig. R4.2Definition of average rib width.10

Fig. R4.1Definition of Rr .10
Additional discussion of Section 3.0:
Table R3.2 compares lap splice lengths for Grade 60 and
75 (414 and 517 MPa) bars based on ACI 318-05 with those
based on these provisions. As shown in the table, setting = 1.0
produces splice lengths that are approximately equal to Class B
splice lengths under ACI 318-05. Because the equations in
Section 2.2 are based on = 1.0, the development lengths
calculated with this section automatically equal Class B
splice lengths under these provisions. ACI 318-05 requires
that Class B splices must be used when As provided is less
than twice As required or when more than 50% of the bars are
spliced at one location. The result is that Class B splices
are used in the majority of cases under the provisions of
ACI 318-05. Because the development lengths required by
these provisions are, in typical cases, longer than required by
ACI 318-05, splice length and development length can
remain the same under these provisions with no loss in
reliability. Longer lap splices are required for tension
members under Section 3.3, where a factor of 1.25 is used.
4.0Development and splicing of high relative rib
area deformed reinforcing bars in tension
4.1Development and lap splice length of deformed
reinforcing bars with a high relative rib area R r, meeting
the requirements of 4.2.1 and satisfying the other criteria
in 4.2, shall be permitted to be computed using the
provisions of 2.0 and 3.0, respectively, with Ktr multiplied
by the factor 0.3 + 9.2Rr, but not greater than 1.6. For fc
10,000 psi (70 MPa), e = 1.2 for epoxy-coated bars
meeting the criteria in 4.2.
R4.1This section is provided to help designers take
advantage of high relative rib area on the tension development
and lap splice length of reinforcing bars. The relative rib area
is expressed as
Ar
R r = -----------d b s r
where
Ar =

projected rib area normal to reinforcing bar axis,

in.2 (mm2); and
sr = average center-to-center rib spacing, in. (mm).
The variables Ar and sr are illustrated in Fig. R4.1. The
figure includes expressions for the approximate values of Ar
and Rr.
The value of e = 1.2 for fc 10,000 psi (70 MPa) is based
on the less detrimental effect of epoxy coating on the bond
strength of high relative rib area bars compared with its effect on
ACI Structural Journal/November-December 2005

the bond strength of conventional reinforcement.2,3,6 For fc

>10,000 psi (70 MPa), e = 1.5, as it is for conventional bars.
To employ this section, the specification for reinforcing
bars, ASTM A 615/A 615M,11 should be modified by the
supplementary requirements imposed by the Recommended
Supplement to ASTM A 615/A 615M for High Relative
Area Bars that appears as Appendix A of this document.
With modifications to the section reference numbers, this
supplement can also be adapted for use with ASTM A 706/
A 706M reinforcing bars. Background information on high
relative reinforcement can be obtained from ACI 408.3-01/
408.3R-01,10 as well as References 2, 3, 6, 7, and 12.
4.2High relative rib area deformed reinforcing bars
shall conform to the requirements of 4.2.1 through 4.2.4.
4.2.1The relative rib area Rr shall be at least 0.10,
but not larger than 0.14 for use in calculating Ktr in 4.1.
4.2.2The rib face shall be placed at an angle of
45 to 65 degrees, inclusive, with respect to the axis of
the bar. Ribs shall not cross. Use of X-patterns or
diamond patterns for ribs is not permitted.
4.2.3The rib spacing shall be at least 0.44 of the
nominal diameter db of the reinforcing bar.
4.2.4The average rib width shall be less than or
equal to one-third of the average rib spacing.
R4.2A high relative rib area bar is defined as a reinforcing
bar with Rr greater than or equal to 0.10, while conventional reinforcement typically has relative rib areas of 0.06 to
0.085. Based on available experimental results, the use of these
provisions is limited to a maximum value of Rr = 0.14. Furthermore, consistent with the smallest spacing used in tests, the rib
spacing sr may not be less than 44% of the nominal bar diameter
as indicated in 4.2.3. A lower limit on the width of the concrete
between ribs is indirectly prescribed in 4.2.4 to avoid having a
reduction in bond capacity due to a local shear failure of the
concrete between the ribs. The variables in 4.2.4 are illustrated in
Fig. R4.2. For calculating the average rib width, the width at 0.75
of the rib height, as illustrated in Fig. R4.2, was chosen for use in
the recommended supplement to ASTM A 615 due to the
possible presence of rounded corners on the ribs.
Reinforcing bars with X or diamond deformation patterns
may not be used on high Rr bars because their bond properties
are markedly lower than bars with parallel ribs. The bamboo
pattern for ribs (ribs oriented at 90 degrees to the bar axis)
are also excluded by the angle restrictions adopted on high
Rr bars because of problems associated with the bending of
conventional bars with this rib orientation.
4.3The limitations in 4.2 shall be waived where it is
demonstrated by tests that other deformation configurations provide bond strengths commensurate with 4.1.
899

R4.3Guidance on appropriate bond tests is provided in

Reference 2.
REFERENCES
1. ACI Committee 318, Building Code Requirements for Structural
Concrete (ACI 318-05) and Commentary (318R-05), American Concrete
Institute, Farmington Hills, Mich., 2005, 430 pp.
2. ACI Committee 408, Bond and Development of Straight Reinforcement
in Tension (ACI 408R-03), American Concrete Institute, Farmington
Hills, Mich., 2003, 49 pp.
3. Zuo, J., and Darwin, D., Splice Strength of Conventional and High
Relative Rib Area Bars in Normal and High Strength Concrete, ACI Structural
Journal, V. 97, No. 4, July-Aug. 2000, pp. 630-641.
4. Grundhoffer, T.; Mendis, P. A.; French, C. W.; and Leon, R., Bond of
Epoxy-Coated Reinforcement in Normal and High-Strength Concrete,
Bond and Development of Reinforcement: A Tribute to Dr. Peter Gergely,
SP-180, Roberto Leon, ed., American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills,
Mich., 1998, pp. 261-297.
5. ACI Committee 318, Building Code Requirements for Structural
Concrete (ACI 318-99) and Commentary (318R-99), American Concrete
Institute, Farmington Hills, Mich., 1999, 391 pp.
6. Darwin, D.; Tholen, M. L.; Idun, E. K.; and Zuo, J., Splice Strength
of High Relative Rib Area Reinforcing Bars, ACI Structural Journal,
V. 93, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 1996, pp. 95-107.
7. Darwin, D.; Zuo, J.; Tholen, M. L.; and Idun, E. K., Development
Length Criteria for Conventional and High Relative Area Reinforcing
Bars, ACI Structural Journal, V. 93, No. 3, May-June 1996, pp. 347-359.
8. ACI Committee 318, Building Code Requirements for Reinforced
Concrete (ACI 318-83), American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills,
Mich., 1983, 111 pp.
9. Sivakumar, B.; Gergely, P.; and White, R. N., Suggestions for the
Design of R/C Lapped Splices for Seismic Loading, Concrete International,
V. 5, No. 2, Feb. 1983, pp. 46-50.
10. ACI Committee 408, Splice and Development Length of High Relative
Rib Area Reinforcing Bars in Tension (ACI 408.3-01) and Commentary
(408.3R-01), American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Mich., 2001, 6 pp.
11. ASTM A 615/A 615M-04b, Specification for Deformed and Plain
Carbon-Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement, ASTM International,
West Conshohocken, Pa., 2004, 5 pp.
12. Darwin, D., and Graham, E. K., Effect of Deformation Height and
Spacing on Bond Strength of Reinforcing Bars, ACI Structural Journal,
V. 90, No. 6, Nov.-Dec. 1993, pp. 646-657.

APPENDIX ARECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENT

TO ASTM A 615/A 615M11 FOR HIGH
RELATIVE RIB AREA BARS
The following supplementary requirements shall apply
only when specified in the purchase order or contract.
S.1Requirements for deformations
S.1.1 The deformations on high relative rib area bars shall
meet all requirements in Section 7.
S.1.2 In addition, the relative rib area (as defined in S.2.1)
shall meet the following requirements:
S.1.2.1 The relative rib area shall be at least 0.10, but no
larger than 0.14;
S.1.2.2 The ribs shall be oriented at an angle of 45 to
65 degrees inclusive with respect to the axis of the bar. Ribs
shall not cross. Use of X-patterns or diamond patterns for
ribs is not permitted;
S.1.2.3 The rib spacing shall be at least 0.44 of the
nominal diameter db of the reinforcing bar; and
S.1.2.4 The average rib width shall be less than or equal
to one-third of the average rib spacing.

900

S.2Relative rib area

S.2.1 The relative rib area Rr is the ratio of the projected
rib area normal to the bar axis to product of the nominal bar
perimeter and average center-to-center rib spacing. The
value of Rr should be specified by the purchaser.
S.2.2 For bars that meet the requirements of S.1.2, it shall
be permitted to calculate Rr using Eq. (S-1).
h
gaps
R r = ----r 1 --------------
p
sr

(S-1)

where
hr
= average height of deformations (measured
according to S.2.3), in. (mm)
sr
= average spacing of deformations, in. (mm)
gaps = sum of the gaps between ends of deformations as
defined in Section 7.4, plus the width of any
continuous longitudinal lines used to represent
the grade of the bar, multiplied by the ratio of the
height of the line to hr, in. (mm)
p
= nominal perimeter of the bar, in. (mm) (Table 1)
S.2.3 The average height of deformations shall be determined from measurements made on not less than two typical
deformations on each side of the bar. Determinations shall be
based on five measurements per deformation, one at the
center of the overall length, two at the ends of the overall
length, and two located halfway between the center and the
ends. The measurements at the ends of the overall length
shall be averaged to obtain a single value and that value shall
be combined with the other three measurements to obtain the
average rib height hr. Deformation height shall be measured
using a depth gauge with a knife edge support that spans not
more than two adjacent ribs. Alternatively, it shall be
permitted to use a knife edge that spans more than two
adjacent ribs, in which case the average rib height shall
be multiplied by 0.95 prior to use in Eq. (S-1).
S.2.4 The average rib width shall be determined from
measurements made on not less than two typical deformations
on each side of the bar. Determinations shall be based on three
measurements per deformation, one at the center and one at each
end. The measurements shall be taken at three-quarters of the rib
height at each location. The average of the measurements at the
ends shall be averaged with the center measurement to obtain a
value for the one side of the deformation.
Note S.2A knife edge is required to allow measurements
to be made at the ends of the overall length of deformations,
usually adjacent to a longitudinal rib. The calculation of hr
is based on a knife edge that spans only two ribs because
measurements made with a longer knife edge result in
unrealistically high average rib heights and an overestimate
of the relative rib area for some bars. When a longer knife
edge is used, hr is reduced by 5%.
S.3Type of steel
S.3.1 All bars produced to these supplementary requirements
shall be identified by the letter H, in place of the letter S specified
in 20.3.3, indicating that the bar was produced to meet both the
specification and these supplementary requirements.

ACI Structural Journal/November-December 2005